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Where is the Competition for Josh Freeman Going to Come From?

January 8th, 2013 at 7:28 PM By Wolf Heard

Adding competition in the offseason for quarterback Josh Freeman has been the big topic of conversation lately. It is understandable that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers want to bring in someone to either push Freeman or replace him should he falter like he did down the stretch in 2012.

But where is that competition going to come from? Would the Bucs really spend a second or third rounder on a quarterback knowing they have so many holes on defense that need to be filled?

Not likely. So that means the Bucs will probably turn towards free agency in hopes of finding their backup plan for No. 5.

But guess what? There aren't many talented signal callers on the market. Here is a look at who should be available:

Matt Moore Here is a man the Bucs are familiar with since he spent his first four seasons in Carolina. He left in 2010 for Miami and actually started 12 games in 2011, throwing for 2,497 yards with 19 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He is now expendable after the Dolphins drafted Ryan Tannehill. Does he have what it takes to overthrow Freeman? Probably not. But he has the skills to push him.

Jason Campbell Side by side, Freeman and Campbell are physically very similar. He is an athletic quarterback with a big arm, just like Freeman. But he is also inconsistent. Campbell didn't pan out in Washington or Oakland, and he just backed up Jay Cutler in Chicago. But with career numbers very close to Freeman's, he doesn't appear to be what Tampa Bay is looking for. Why make a lateral move?

Tavaris Jackson If Freeman's inconsistency bugs Bucs fans, Jackson will almost certainly make them flee in terror. Jackson is a gifted athlete that can make plays with legs and arm. But he also makes boneheaded plays and has never really been a guy to fully lead a team. Jackson has just 38 career touchdowns to 35 interceptions so he is likely better suited for a backup role.

Brady Quinn He started a eight games in 2012 for the Kansas City Chiefs, but the former first-round pick had only two touchdown passes compared to eight interceptions. Quinn has just 12 career touchdowns and 17 interceptions with a completion percentage of just 53.8. With numbers like that, Quinn is destined to be a career backup and probably isn't the answer at quarterback for the Bucs.

There are many others like Rex Grossman, David Carr, and Curtis Painter, but those guys don't appear to be what the Bucs need in order to get the best out of Freeman.

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In 1994, the Buccaneers selected quarterback Trent Dilfer in the first round (6th overall) of the NFL Draft. Tampa Bay waited 15 years to spend another first round pick on a quarterback before selecting Josh Freeman with the 17th overall pick in 2009.